Bathing appliance



Nov. 27, 1928.

B. H. KENNEDY ET AL BATHING APPLIANCE 2 ShOGtS-Sheet l Filed July 23, 1923 INVENTORs eziA TTORNEY Nov. 27, 1928.

1,693,390 5. H. KENNEDY ETAL BATHING APPLIANCE Filed July 23., 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

0/ 4 47 If I I gvmvrons Zerymm pewqymmeay 0 flezrATTORNEY Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN H. KENNEDY AND DEWEY M. KENNEDY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BATHIN G APPLIANCE.

Application filed July 23,

Our present invention relates to bathing appliances and more particularly to bath tubs of a nature suited to the bathing of infants and it has for its object to provide an improved device of this nature having combined therewith a dressing table suitable for use in drying and dreaming the infant after the bath. The improvements are directed in part toward rendering the dressing table convenient in manipulation and use toward providing two positions thereof at different elevations between which the dressing table can be moved easily and quickly. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a tub and dressing table constructed in accordance with and illustrating one embodiment of our invention, the dressing table being shown in its elevated operative position and a fragment of the tub support being shown broken away at one side.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view with the entire so device folded;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view with the dressing table in its lower position;

Figure 5 is an end view with the tub in operative position and the dressing table in ino rative position;

li i gure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing in section the retaining catch for the dressing table supports and Figure 7 is a bottom view of the dressing table detached with the supports folded, the section line 6-6 thereon being that upon which Figure 6 is taken.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

To first give a general idea of the general construction and mode of operationof our improved apparatus it comprises in the present embodiment a collapsible tub of rubber cloth su ported in the manner of a camp stool seat on folding legs. When the tubis folded and alsowhen it is in operative position a dressing table attached thereto is disposed 1923. Serial No. 653,136.

vertically at one side thereof. After the bath is over t e dressing table may be drawn upwardly and forwardly to an overlying position with reference to the tub and the infant transferred thereto. In case a. higher position is desired, folding supports on the dressing table elevated a. desired distance, one os1t1on being assumed when the user is sitting and the other when standing. Referring more particularly to the drawings 1 indicates pairs of crossed supporting legs pivoted together at 2 and the corresponding units of each pair connected together at their upper ends by rails 3 which, in the most convenient position of use constitute front and back rails. Suitably supported between these rails and sus ended therefrom is a collapsible tub 4 whicunder ordinary circumstances, is stretched to operative position as shown in Figure 5 by the spreading of the legs 1. Extending across the front of the tub is a yoke or bail 5 the offset ends of which have pivot bearings at 6 in the inner sides of the upper ends of two corresponding legs 1 so that the bail may swing to elther the outstanding position of Figures 1 and. 5 or fold back into the lane of the legs. A trough shaped pocket preferably composed of the same material as the tub, is attached at its rear edge to the front rail 3 and at its front edge to the bail 5 and thus constitutes a folding tray for wet articles used 'inthe bath such as soaps, sponges etc. Its folding movement permits water to be easily emptied therefrom but stops 8 normally prevent it from dropping down forwardly.

The tub is collapsed by folding the legs in the maner shown in Figure 3 in which position it is compact and occupies very little space and is easily carried about.

Secured to the rear rail 3 to extend closely parallel thereto at the rear edge of the tub is a guide rod 9 having two carriage blocks 10 slidable thereon. The base rods 11 of two yoke shaped supporting legs 12 extend in a relatively transverse direction through the respective carriage blocks in which they have both a sliding and a pivotal bearing. The upper ends of the legs are turned substantially at right angles to extend into and have pivotal bearings in the inner side of the front and back rails of a dressing table frame 13 carrying a top 14 preferably composed of canvas or similar soft material stretched over the frame. At their forward ends the base rods 11 are formed into downwardly turned fingers 15. A contracting coil spring 16 connecting the links has a normal tendency to draw-them together into the upright positions of Figure 1 to which their movement is limited by stop blocks 17 secured to the frame 13 thus, these legs swing inwardly to an operative upright position and outwardly to an inoperative folded position such as that of Figures 4: and 7 in which latter the fingers 15 are shown secured by catches 17 on the end rails of the frame 13, (Figure 6) which hold them against movement under the influence of the spring 16.

In this folded position of the dressing table supporting leg the carriage blocks 10 are in extreme positions on the guide rod 9 as shown and normally the dressing table occupies a folded vertical position at the rear of the tub and its support so that free access to the tub may be had as shown in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows the same relative positions of the parts included as in Figure 5. WVhen the bath is completed and it is desired to lay the infant on the dressing table, the latter is first raised vertically from the position of Figure 5 by means of a handle provided for the purpose, so that the base rods 11 of the. folded supports 12, themselves acting as guides, slide upwardly through the carriage blocks 10. When so raised to the limit of movement the dressing'tabl'e is then swung forwardly and downwardly to the overlying position with reference to the tub, shown in Figure 4, the carriage blocks 10 turning on the guide rod 9. .This is the position of the dressing table usually employed when the user is sitting. If she wishes to stand, a more elevated position of the dressing table is convenient and in that case the catches 17 are released permitting the legs 12 to assume the upright position of Figures 1 and 2 as heretofore described. The fingers 15, in such a case not only prevent rearward movement of thedegs and hence the table but cooperate with stops 19 on the front rail 3 to. prevent spreading in addition to the spring 16. The legs 12 are folded and the dressing table lowered or swung back to the folded position of Figure 5 bv a reversal of the movements just described.

It will be observed that the dressing table may be operated from the inoperative position of Figure 5 to its overlying position with the use of only one hand and while the infant is being held in the other arm. Also, inasmuch as the legs 12 extend themselves automatically when released from the catches 17 the elevation of the dressing table may be accomplished with similar convenience.

We claim as our invention;

1. The combination with a support and a bath tub carried thereby, of a guide rod extending along one side of the tub and support, carriage blocks rotatable on the guide rod and a dressing table having sliding engagement with the carriage blocks adapting it to move between an operative horizontal position overlying the tub and a vertical inoperative position at one side of the latter.

2. The combination with a support em bodying side rails and a bath tub carried thereby, of a dressing table connected to the support and adapted to assume a low posltion on the side rails overlying the tub and folding legs on the dressing table embodying yoke shaped bails pivoted near the center of the table to fold outwardly substantially coincident with the margins thereof and adapted when extended to support the dressingtablein another similar but relatively elevated position, said dressing table consisting of a frame having a soft material stretched over the same.

3. The combination with a support embodying side rails and a bathtub carried thereby, of a dressing table connected to the support and adapted to assume a low position on the side rails overlying the tub and folding legs on the dressing table embodying yoke shaped bails pivoted near the center of the table to fold outwardly substantially coincident with the margins threeof and adapted when extended to support the dressing table in another similar but relatively elevated position, and a spring connecting the legs and having a tendency to draw them together to operatlve position. x

4. The combination with a support and a bath tub carried thereby, of a dressing table having an overlying operative position with reference to the tub and a substantially vertical inoperative position at one side thereof and folding legs of the dressing table adapted to support it in another relatively elevated operative position, said legs being connected to act as guides in moving the dressing table between its operative and inoperative positions.

5. The combination with a support embodying side rails, a bath tub supported thereby and a guide rod extending along one of said rails, of a dressing table adapted to rest on therails in an overlying position with reference to the tub, folding legs on the dressing table adapted when extended to sup-port it in another relatively elevated operative position and embodying yoke shaped memers having base rods resting on the rails and carriage blocks rotatable and slidable upon the guide rod and slidably receding the base rods of the legs to permit the dressing table to be moved to a substantially vertical position at one side of the support and tub.

6. The combination with a support embodying folding legs and side rails and a bath tub carried by the rails, of a pivoted yoke shaped member supported on the legs and a soap tray supported jointly by the yoke the lane thereof, a son. tray supported shaped member and the adjacent side rail. joint y by the yoke sha member and the 7. The combination with a support emadjacent side rail and stops for limiting the I. bodying folding legs and side rails and a. lowered operative position of the tray.

5 bath tub carried by the rails, of a. pivoted yoke shaped member pivotally su ported on BENJAMIN H. KENNEDY. the legs to fold upwa'rdly into so tantially DEWEY M. KENNEDY. 

